Tug and trace fastener.



A. V. CUNNINGHAM, SE.

TUG AND TRACE FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1908.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

WITNESSES INVENTOR g2 4M4 mwym. a J.

Y N R 0 n A ABELARD V. CUNNINGHAM, SR, OF ZELIENOPLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TUG AND TRACE FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed. April 28, 1908. Serial No. 429,771.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABELARD V. CUNNING- HAM, Sn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zelienople, county of Butler, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tug and Trace Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in tugs and trace fasteners, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple, effective, positive and reliable means for preventing a tug or trace from becoming accidentally displaced from the end of a swingletree.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of a tug and trace fastener made in accordance with my improvement. Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view thereof, Fig. 3, a sectional view at the line XX of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of my improved tug and trace fastener, and, Fig. 5, a

ongitudinal sectional view thereof.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied A represents one end of a swingletree upon which I have located my tug and trace fastener. The fastener is constructed with a flat resilient piece of metal B, the outer end of which is secured to the end of the swingletree A by means of the screw C. The opposite end of the piece of metal is held by a staple D and is bent to form a resilient arm E, having the extension F formed therewith.

G represents a groove cut in the swingletree in proximity to the end thereof, in which rests the fastening member H, said fastening member being composed of a link which is held in place by the piece of metal B, the fastening member being adapted to swing up or down as the case may be. The resilient arm E is normally held in engagement by the fastening member H which passes over the outer end of said arm and is held against accidental disengagement with said arm by means of the extension F.

r I indicates a groove cut in the outer end of the swingletree in which the fastening member H will lie so as to permit of the tug or trace being placed upon the end of the swingletree and when in position the resilient arm E will be pressed down and the fastening member H swung upward over the extension F and this will retain the tug or trace on the swingletree.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings I have illustrated a slight modification of the fastener wherein the piece of metal J is secured to the swingletree a short distance from its end by means of the screw K and the staple L. In proximity to the staple, the piece of metal J is bent to form the arm M, the outer end of which is bent upward forming the extension N. The fastening member H is secured to the swingletrec by the short strip of metal 0, said short strip of metal being fastened to the swingletree A by the screws P.

My improved tug and trace fastener may be counter sunk if so desired in the ends of the swingletree, thus preventing the edges of the metal parts catching in the tug or trace which would injure the same.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details here shown as these may be varied within certain limits without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and useful is- 1. In combination with a swingletree, a strip of resilient metal bent in the form of a U having one leg thereof secured to said swingletree and having its opposite leg free, and forming a resilient arm provided at its end with an upturned extension, said swingletree being formed with a transverse groove at a point underlying the outer end of said first named leg of the U-shaped strip of metal, and a link having one end disposed in said groove so as to be engaged by said first named leg of the metal strip and having its other end for engagement with the free end of the second named leg of the metal strip and said upward extension thereof.

2. In combination with a swingletree, a resilient arm secured to said swingletree and having one end free and formed with an upturned extension, a link having one end disposed on the top face of the swingletree adtil jacent one of the ends of the latter, and 1 affixed my signature in the presence of two means overlying said end of the link to pivci subscribing Witnesses. otal secure same to said swin etree sai T free ind of the arm and said upQvard dxten- ABELARD GUNMNGHAM sion thereof being adapted to be passed Witnesses: through said link to engage its opposite end. FRANK W. CUNNINGHAM,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto GEO. HOUsEHOLDER. 

